Pennsylvania's Broadcasters

Serving Every Local Community

ABC-owned WPVI-TV Philadelphia distributed 10,000 smoke alarms on February 2 to local families in need through its “Operation 6abc: Save a Life” program. Each smoke alarm includes a 10-year battery. Since 1992, WPVI and local fire companies have distributed hundreds of thousands of smoke alarms.

Beasley Media Group’s WMMR-FM Philadelphia collected a record 1.83 million pounds of food (913 tons) and nearly $200,000 in the 21st annual “Preston & Steve Camp Out for Hunger,” held November 26 – 30. The donations will provide over 2.2 million meals for people in need.

Entercom’s WBZZ-FM and WDSY-FM Pittsburgh hosted on December 2 “A Concert for Unity” to benefit the rebuilding of Tree of Life – Or L’Simcha Congregation. Eleven people died and several more were injured during a shooting at the synagogue on October 27.

“On behalf of our entire congregation, I wish to thank all who are involved in this amazing effort to support the rebuilding of our synagogue,” said Congregation President Samuel K. Schachner, Ph.D. “This proves that love truly is stronger than hate.”

Beasley Media Group’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia collected almost 10,000 turkeys on November 20 during its “John DeBella Turkey Drop,” Philadelphia’s largest one day food drive. Morning Show Host John DeBella broadcast live to accept donations for City Team Philadelphia, a non-profit providing food and services to local individuals, families, shelters and agencies. WMGK-FM also accepted donations at supermarkets in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

NBC-owned WCAU and Telemundo’s WWSI Philadelphia aired “Progress and Promise Against Cancer Day” live from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on November 8. More than 20 physicians and scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) discussed cancer research, prevention, treatment, and early detection. They took questions in English and Spanish via email, text, phone and social media.

“Our goal is to use our multiple platforms on air and online, to educate, inspire, and spark conversation in two languages about breakthroughs and advancements in cancer,” said News Director Anzio Williams.

CBS Television Stations’ KYW-TV Philadelphia held their 12th annual Alex Scott Telethon, a 14-hour on-air benefit for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, on June 14. The event raised a record $7 million for pediatric cancer research. Over its 12 years on-air, the event has raised nearly $32 million for the cause.

The Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by four-year-old terminal cancer patient Alexandra Scott, who held a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer.

Beasley’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia raised $143,000 during its annual “John DeBella Annual Radiothon” on June 15 to benefit the local Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC). In 10 years, WMGK has raised over $1 million for local veterans. The station also conducted a series of online auctions that included front row tickets to see the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Joel, and Ozzy Osbourne.

Beasley Media Group’s WMMR-FM personality Kathy Romano hosted her 11th annual “Kathy’s Cuts” on April 13 to benefit Wigs for Kids. The event produced over 123 wigs to benefit Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that helps sick children achieve a sense of normalcy. “The radio station is a voice to get the word out, and the listeners step up to make the donation,” said Promotion Director Eric Simon. “It’s a proud moment for WMMR to be a part of something very special.”

CBS-owned KYW-TV and CBS-owned CW affiliate WPSG-TV Philadelphia raised over $1 million in their ninth annual “Change the Luck of a Child” live telethon benefitting the local Ronald McDonald House Charities on March 27. The event featured on-air personalities from local CBS stations, including KYW-TV, KYW-AM WOGL-FM, WPHT-AM, WXTU-FM, sports talk WIP-FM, and WTDY-FM. Special guests included Eagles Cheerleaders, plus the 76ers Dunk Team, dancers and mascot Swoop. The event has raised more than $7.4 million since 2010.

Hearst’s ABC affiliate WTAE-TV Pittsburgh partnered with The League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh to host a live debate in the race for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District on March 3.
The hour-long debate aired commercial-free and also streamed live, featuring special election candidates Democrat Conor Lamb and Republican Rick Saccone, “Pittsburghers deserve to see the clearest picture of who will represent us in Congress,” said WTAE President and General Manager Charles W. Wolfertz III. “We are honored to give viewers a chance to see each candidate’s vision for important issues such as tax overhaul, infrastructure, gun safety legislation and national security.”

NBC-owned WCAU-TV and Telemundo’s WWSI-TV Philadelphia hosted a live phone bank on March 1 for families interested in providing foster care. During the two-and-a-half hour phone bank, recruitment experts from Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services and its 25 provider agencies answered questions in English and Spanish. “With nearly 6,000 youth in Philadelphia living in foster care at any given time, NBC10 and Telemundo62 are committed to raising awareness about the need for families to provide loving homes for these children,” said General Manager Ric Harris.

Beasley’s WMMR-FM Philadelphia Public Affairs Director Markus Goldman conducted an interview on February 11 about safe injection sites for opioid users with the City of Philadelphia’s Managing Director Michael DiBernardinis and Health Director Dr. Thomas Farley. “Opioids are a major problem in the City of Philadelphia and it is indicative of a nationwide epidemic,” said Goldman. “I am hoping that this interview will provide the necessary information for the public to understand and to become educated surrounding the safe injection sites in Philadelphia.”

CBS-owned KDKA-TV Pittsburgh investigative reporter Marty Griffin addressed bullying onair after a local mom reached out to him. Her 15-year-old daughter, Cassie, received this Instagram message: “I told her she should of killed herself last year when she went to the loony bin, and everyone in school laughed about it, and no one cares if she does it now.” Griffin had Cassie read the taunts on camera to raise awareness of the issue. He also contacted an attorney to meet with school officials.

Beasley Media Group’s WBEN-FM Philadelphia held their annual “Adopt A Family” radiothon in partnership with Volunteers of America on December 5. WBEN-FM’s radiothon successfully solicited the ‘adoption’ of over 700 families. Additionally, the radiothon helped to raise over $50,000 to benefit hundreds of families in the surrounding community through Volunteers of America Delaware Valley’s “Adopt A Family Program.”

iHeartMedia’s WKST-FM Pittsburgh collected enough toys to fill 59 buses during the 14th annual “Stuff A Bus” drive, surpassing last year’s total of 57 buses. The new and unwrapped toys will benefit the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program. KISS’ The Morning Freak Show’s on-air personalities Mikey and Bob, along with Tall Cathy and Scottro, broadcast live. Stuff A Bus received toys from individual listeners and their families, as well as local schools, public safety departments, and neighboring businesses.

Beasley Media Group’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia held its annual "John DeBella Turkey Drop" on November 21, collecting over 12,800 turkeys and donations for area families in need, exceeding the amount raised in previous years by a wide margin. The event is the largest one-day food gathering event of its kind in Philadelphia. Proceeds from the John DeBella Turkey Drop benefit Cityteam Philadelphia, a nonprofit organization that works to provide year-round food and support services to less fortunate individuals, families, shelters and agencies in the local community.

Beasley’s WMMR-FM Philadelphia media personalities celebrated their 20th year of the "Preston & Steve Camp Out for Hunger." Preston and Steve lived in the parking lot of Xfinity Live! Philadelphia from November 27 to December 1 to solicit food donations from listeners and businesses in the greater Philadelphia area. This year’s efforts yielded over 839 tons of food – that’s 1,679,823 pounds. Combined with $272,683 in monetary donations, this campaign provided over 2.2 million meals for individuals facing hunger insecurity.

iHeartMedia’s WDVE-FM Pittsburgh raised over $814,000 during the 10th annual “DVE Rocks for Children’s Radiothon,” which broadcast live September 28 - 29. In 10 years, the radiothon has raised nearly $5 million to benefit the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, which is the leading provider of pediatric care in the community. On-air personalities shared stories from patients, families, and staff.

CBS-owned KYW-TV and CBS-owned CW affiliate WPSG-TV Philadelphia raised a record $6.5 million on June 8 during the 11th annual "Alex Scott Telethon" to benefit pediatric cancer research. In 11 years, the event has raised nearly $24 million. The live broadcast included personalities from KYW-TV, CBS Radio’s WOGL-FM, WPHT-AM, KYW-AM, WIP-FM, WXTU-FM and WTDY-FM, coaches from St. Joseph’s University and Temple University, plus mascots from the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles and 76ers.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation evolved from four-year-old cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who held a lemonade stand in 2000 to raise money to help find a cure for childhood cancer. The annual “Lemonade Days,” when thousands of volunteers across the country host lemonade stands to fundraise.

NBC’s Telemundo affiliate WWSI-TV Philadelphia hosted its third live, informational phone bank on July 20 to answer viewer questions about immigration-related topics. The phone bank featured 18 Spanish-speaking legal experts who provided free, confidential advice and counsel to local callers. “One measure of a television station can be how it leverages its resources to help just one local viewer, or 100,” said Paul Greeley of TVNewsCheck.

NBC-owned WCAU-TV Philadelphia streamed a digital-only exclusive half-hour report “Preventing Suicide: Breaking the Silence” on June 6. The special examined suicide in the Greater Philadelphia region to help raise awareness, remove the stigma and highlight the role of local government and health organizations.

Beasley’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia raised $154,000 for local veterans during the live broadcast of the “John DeBella Veterans Radiothon,” held June 16. This year, WMGK also conducted a series of online auctions that included front row tickets to a Jimmy Buffett concert, autographed items and experiences with national recording artists such as Roger Waters, The Who, Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton and Joan Jett. All funds benefit the Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC) in Philadelphia. In 10 years, WMGK-FM has raised over $1 million through the radiothon.

Hearst’s ABC affiliate WTAE-TV Pittsburgh aired “Chronicle: Only in Pittsburgh” on June 21 to show how the city that once faced collapse has reinvented itself. The program showcased the key role Pittsburgh will play in the world over the next several decades, highlighting local innovators and the fusion of technology and education. “This installment of Chronicle proves that the Steel City is more than ready to help write history,” said General Manager Charles W. Wolfertz III.

Beasley Media’s WMMR-FM Philadelphia’s Preston & Steve hosted an all-day blood drive on June 17. They collected 1,226 productive pints of blood, including 144 of “power red.” A machine used for power red donations collects two units of red blood cells while returning plasma and platelets.

CBS Radio’s WIP-FM, KYW-AM, WPHT-AM, WXTU-FM, WTDY-FM and WOGL-FM partnered with the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) for “Hero’s Home,” a home renovation initiative benefitting veterans. The new home for U.S. Army veteran Jack MacIntosh, who was injured in the line of duty during the Gulf War, was officially unveiled on April 25. Each April and November, the Travis Manion Foundation organizes “Operation Legacy,” which unites communities for a common cause through volunteer-led service opportunities. Under this umbrella, CBS Radio and TMF joined forces to unite home improvement partners to donate their services in renovating the MacIntosh home.

Hearst’s ABC affiliate WTAE-TV aired Chronicle: State of Addiction on March 22. The program featured first-hand stories from a former college athlete, a computer software developer and an Olympian who are in recovery. Immediately following the program, viewers participated in an hour-long Facebook Live discussion with experts. “We are proud that WTAE Channel 4 and our parent company Hearst Television have embarked on a year-long project aimed at combating the opioid crisis,” said General Manager Charles W. Wolfertz III.

CBS-owned KWY-TV and CW affiliate WPSG-TV Philadelphia raised $1.2 million in the eighth annual “Ronald McDonald House Charities Telethon,” on March 28. This year’s event brings the eight-year total to $ 7.4 million. Fuds supports four Ronald McDonald Houses, 16 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and $130,000 in college scholarships.

Fox owned-and-operated WTXF-TV Philadelphia investigated a sexual harassment scandal at ASPIRA, a local charter school operator. Reporter Jeff Cole questioned ASPIRA’s CEO in the parking lot of his office regarding a related $350,000 payoff. The payoff was confirmed through ASPIRA’s insurance company, yet the CEO remained in his position. The story prompted action from the state of Pennsylvania.

Fox’s owned-and-operated WTXF-TV Philadelphia partnered with major league baseball team the Phillies to honor Anthony Conly, an area man who had been honorably discharged from the Army in 2002. He received a signed glove, jersey and was invited to attend the Phillies Phantasy Camp.

NBC owned-and-operated WCAU-TV and Telemundo’s WWSI Philadelphia encourage viewers to share their consumer complaints with the NBC10 Responds and Telemundo62 Responde. The stations lost the consumer investigative units last year to address claims when viewers feel they have run out of options.

CBS-owned KYW-TV Philadelphia partnered with Susan G. Komen for the 15th annual “Lights for the Cure” campaign. The skylines in Philadelphia and surrounding areas will remain pink throughout October for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The lighting of Atlantic City landmarks occurs October 7. Since the campaign’s inception, KYW-TV and CW affiliate WPLG-TV have aired over 2,000 reminders for viewers to schedule a mammogram. “This October, Komen launches our new bold goal to reduce the number of U.S. breast cancer deaths by 50 percent within 10 years,” said Komen Philadelphia CEO Elaine I. Grobman, “We couldn’t pursue such an aggressive goal, nor could we have accomplished all we

Fox Television’s owned-and-operated WTXF-TV Philadelphia investigated a recycling company accused of illegal dumping. The investigation found that Jersey Recycling Services illegally brought in nearly 380,000 cubic yards of material, which equates to more than 20,000 truckloads that raised the dumping site by 10 to 15 feet.

Greater Media’s WMMR-FM Philadelphia collected a record 1,297 units in its 11th annual “I Bleed for Preston & Steve Blood Drive” on June 18. As each donation can save three lives, this event may save 3,891 people. Morning personalities Preston and Steve greeted listeners throughout the day. Each donor received a Preston and Steve t-shirt and pint glass. In addition, 600 random donors received a pair of concert tickets. WMMR hosts the area’s largest blood drive, with 12,605 pints collected in 11 years.

CBS-owned KYW-TV, CBS’ CW affiliate WPSG-TV and CBS Radio Philadelphia raised a record $4.9 million in the 10th annual “Alex Scott Telethon” on June 9. The telethon supports Alex’s Lemonade Stand, which emerged from four-year-old cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott’s lemonade stand. The CBS event kicked off Lemonade Days 2016, June 10-12, when thousands of volunteers across the country host lemonade stands to raise money. KYW Reporter Vittoria Woodill hosted a lemonade stand in Ocean City, N.J. The Phillie Phanatic, the 76ers Dance Team and Swoop from the Eagles joined personalities from KYW-TV and CBS Radio’s WOGL-FM, WHPT-AM, KYW-AM and WIP-FM. The event has raised more than $17 million in 10 years.

Mission Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate WYOU Scranton, Pa. raised $2.66 million for Children’s Miracle network in its 33rd annual telethon, June 3-4. The money pays for hospital infrastructure and equipment, including ventilators for premature babies, car seats, reading programs and camps for children. WYOU aired stories from patients, including four-year-old Carter who has undergone three open heart surgeries. The telethon also included a craft fair, children’s activities and the Motorcycle Miracle Tour.

Fox owned-and-operated WTFX-TV Philadelphia Investigative Reporter Jeff Cole helped a viewer get compensation after a city sanitation truck hit her parked car. At first the city denied the claim, but within an hour of Cole getting involved, the city called him and said that they would cover the resident’s repair expenses in full.

Fox owned-and-operated WTXF-TV Philadelphia investigated the relationship between an area priest and his former secretary. After receiving a tip from a parishioner, the station discovered that Father Joel Arciga-Camarillo was spending almost all of his time away from the church, including complete evenings, at the home of his former colleague. The report led to the Diocese of Camden to open its own investigation. Father Arciga-Camarillo was eventually reassigned.

Media General’s ABC affiliate WHTM-TV Harrisburg, Pa. aired an investigative piece on May 10 on the state’s structurally-deficient bridges. Reporter Dawn White showed that the state has the second highest number of structurally deficient bridges in the country. White combed through hundreds of pages on bridges supplied by PennDOT’s Right-To-Know officer and found that more than 500 bridges do not meet structural and legal requirements. There are 136 faulty bridges in Lancaster County alone. Watch more here.

Hearst’s ABC affiliate WATE-TV Pittsburgh reporter David Kaplan and photographer Eric Hinnabusch helped victims of a multi-car crash that occurred on May 6. The station crew members witnessed the crash and immediately went to the aid of a woman trapped in one of the cars, in addition to phoning for help. Click here to view the video.

MBC Grand Broadcasting’s WFMZ-TV Allentown, Pa. anchor Chandi Lowry was recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters for the 30-minute special “Hooked on Heroin: Chasing the High,” which aired November 22, 2015. Lowry received the award in the Outstanding Television Public Affairs Program category at the 2016 Awards Luncheon, May 16.

Cox-owned WFXT Boston launched Fox25 News at 4:00 p.m. on April 25. Elizabeth Hopkins and Blair Miller co-anchor the weekday newscast with Chief Meteorologist Kevin Lemanowicz. The additional hour of news gives WFXT a three-hour block
of local news coverage from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. “The addition of Fox25 News at 4:00 p.m. is part of our long-term commitment to provide Boston-area viewers the most complete and in-depth local news, weather, traffic and sports coverage,” said WFXT Vice President and General Manager Tom Raponi.

Hearst’s ABC affiliate WTAE-TV Pittsburgh hosted and aired a debate on April 5 with candidates for U.S. Senate, Joe Sestak, Katie McGinty and John Fetterman. WTAE President and General Manager Charles W. Wolfertz III spoke about the event on-air in the days leading to the debate.

CBS owned-and-operated KYW-TV Philadelphia raised $1.1 million in the seventh annual “Ronald McDonald House Charities Phone Bank,” on March 22. Since 2010, the fundraiser has raised over $6.2 million to benefit programs for local children hosted by the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Hearst’s NBC affiliate WGAL-TV Harrisburg provided wall-to-wall coverage as Winter Storm Jonas dumped several feet of snow on Jan. 22-23. Nielsen data shows that WGAL averaged a 13.4 rating from 5 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Jan. 23. “I’m proud of the work our team did during the storm—under very difficult circumstances,” said General Manager John Humphries. “It’s gratifying to see these ratings and know the audience found our work helpful. It’s also humbling to know in a tough time so many people chose WGAL News 8 for the information they need to help keep their family safe.”

ABC-owned WPVI-TV Philadelphia partnered with local firefighters on “Operation 6abc: Save a Life,” to educate viewers on fire prevention and distribute 10,000 smoke alarms low income, elderly and other residents. The alarms contain a battery proven to last a decade. In 15 years, “Operation 6abc: Save a Life” has distributed nearly one million smoke alarms. WPVI also produced PSAs that aired in January.

iHeartMedia’s WDVE-FM Pittsburgh raised a record $653,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation on Sept. 26. The live broadcast featured musical performances and guest appearances from Arthur Moats and Jarvis Jones of the Pittsburgh Steelers. "As we celebrate the 125th Anniversary of Children’s Hospital, we are so grateful for community partners like 102.5 WDVE, who have been loyal and supportive of our mission throughout the years," said Foundation President Greg Barrett.

CBS Philadelphia Radiothons Bring in Nearly $1 Million for Local Children

CBS Radio stations in Philadelphia hosted successful fundraisers in September. WOGL-FM raised more than $680,000 in its 14th annual "WOGL Loves Our Kids" radiothon on September 10-11 for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Click here to watch a recap video.

WIP-FM’s "Eagles Radiothon," held September 8-9, raised $200,000 for the Eagles Youth Partnership (EYP). The EYP’s health and education programs serve more than 50,000 children annually. Auction items included exclusive experiences with several Philadelphia Eagles players, a Super Bowl travel package and the chance to have WIP broadcast remotely from the winner’s workplace.

ABC owned-and-operated WPVI-TV Philadelphia was the official media partner for Musikfest, an 11-day concert, the largest of its kind, held in Bethlehem, PA. The event, held August 5 – 11, was presented by ArtsQuest, a nonprofit that supports the arts and culture in the local area. Attendees could select from more than 550 music and art performances across 16 indoor and outdoor stages. Some of the performers included Darius Rucker, Culture Club and 3 Doors Down.

Hearst Television’s ABC affiliate WTAE-TV Pittsburgh aired "Chronicle: Burning Questions" on June 24 and June 28. Its four-month investigation showed that local fire departments do not meet national standards for response times due to personnel shortages, budget issues and outdated equipment. WTAE also highlighted the National Fallen Firefighter Fund, which supports the Hal Bruno Comfort Zone Camp for kids who lost a parent in the line of duty. "This installment of Chronicle examines how volunteers are struggling to make do with a 200-year-old system, putting our communities at risk," WTAE President and General Manager Charles W. Wolfertz III told TVNewsCheck. "Our team took great care to uncover the problems firefighters face and possible solutions."

Sinclair Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate WHP-TV Harrisburg, Pa. hosts Face the State, a weekly political show that airs every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. following Face the Nation. The show features guest interviews, group conversations and a roundtable discussion among a weekly guest journalist, anchor Robb Hanrahan, WHP-TV Democratic Strategist Tony May and WHP-TV Republican Strategist Charlie Gerow. Guests have included policy makers and state leaders such as former Governor Tom Corbett, Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Scott Perry. Issues explored include educational funding, pension reform, medical marijuana, liquor privatization and the state budget. Past episodes are available here.

Bold Media Group’s WDNH-FM, WYCY-FM and WPSN-AM Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penn. have made it a tradition to do two concurrent fundraisers during the holiday season. The Michael G. Stanton Shower for Charity raised more $20,000 this year for the Wayne County Children’s Christmas bureau as on-air personality Michael Stanton took a shower in the freezing cold in the dead of winter. To date, “The Michael G. Stanton Shower for Charity” has raised more than $170,000. During the “Toys for Tots Challenge,” listeners helped fill up six trucks of toys with thousands of toys for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots foundation. “Several years ago, when we made the decision to attempt to do two large fundraising efforts concurrently, we wondered if both could be successful… but our listeners rally every year and the promotions continue to get bigger,” said Bold Gold President Vince Benedetto.

CBS owned and operated KYW-TV Philadelphia and CBS Television’s CW affiliate WPSG-TV hosted its 29th “Joy of Sharing” campaign this December. The campaign has provided toys for more than 100,000 children in need in Philadelphia over the past 29 years. Last year alone, the campaign collected more than 50,000 toys. One of the longest running TV public service campaigns in the region, KYW and WPSG work with all CBS radio stations in the city including KYW-AM, WOGL-FM, WIP-FM, WPHT-AM and WTEL-AM. The Salvation Army distributes the new, unwrapped toys to local children. Watch the video here.

FCBS Radio’s WBZZ-FM Pittsburg’s Afternoon Host Flick was honored with the Salvation Army’s “Doing the Most Good” award in early December. Flick received the award for his fundraising efforts and increasing awareness of the Salvation Army’s programs. The annual “Doing the Most Good” awards banquet draws nearly 500 people each year, allowing the Pittsburg community to recognize exceptional support of the Salvation Army.

Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Bala Cynwyd, Pa., hosted its 13th Annual John DeBella Turkey Drop on Nov. 25. During morning host John DeBella’s live broadcast at Philadelphia’s Love Park, WMGK-FM accepted monetary and turkey donations. The John DeBella Turkey Drop benefits City Team Philadelphia, which provides food and services to individuals, families and shelters. In 2013, the event raised over 9,000 turkeys. The 2014 Turkey Drop raised 10,685 turkeys for needy individuals and families. City Team Philadelphia provides holiday meals for more than 70 organizations and has seen a record number of sign-ups for holiday meal assistance in 2014.

CBS owned-and-operated KYW-TV Philadelphia helped turn the city skyline pink in October for the 13th year, as part of its Lights for the Cure campaign during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Beyond the pink skyline, KYW-TV and CBS’s CW affiliate WPSG aired segments to generate awareness of breast cancer, including the importance of mammograms. "Our stations have a powerful voice in this region and we are honored to use it to inform our viewers about such a critical issue," said KYW-TV President and General Manager Jon Hitchcock.

CBS Philadelphia’s October 1 "Breakfast With the Candidates," featuring Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and challenger Tom Wolf, aired on KYW-AM, CW affiliate WPSG-TV and CBSPhilly.com. KYW-TV will re-air the program on October 5. "We are pleased to give the candidates the opportunity to present their positions on the critical political issues that affect our state and provide this vital information to the public," said Jon Hitchcock, president and general manager of KYW-TV and WPSG-TV.

CBS Radio’s WIP-FM Philadelphia’s 2014 Eagles Radiothon raised a record $290,000 ($100,000 more than 2013). Proceeds benefit Eagles Youth Partnership, which provides education and health programs to 50,000 low-income children each year. "The kindness and generosity of WIP listeners and Eagles fans never fails to astonish me. Radiothon is a source of pride among everybody at WIP," said WIP-FM’s Marc Rayfield.

Clear Channel Communities and Clear Channel-owned WUSL-FM Philadelphia held the 11th annual "Peace on the Street Jam," a three-part series featuring activities that promote peace and provide resources to help curb violence. The events included jam sessions featuring local artists and an essay contest that involved a partnership with Philadelphia Futures, a local nonprofit that provides college admission resources to first-generation college students.

Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Bala Cynwyd, Penn., hosted the eighth annual John DeBella Veterans Radiothon to benefit local veterans through the Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC). The day-long event featured a series of auctions and appearances from athletes, celebrities and musicians. In total, the benefit raised more than $144,000. Over the past eight years, the radiothon has raised more than $644,000 for the VMC.

CBS-owned KYW-TV and The CW affiliate WPSG-TV Philadelphia hosted the eighth annual "Alex Scott Phone Bank," a 14-hour on-air benefit for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which supports pediatric cancer research. The day-long telethon raised more than $2 million, a record for the fundraiser which began in 2007. Over the past eight years, the event has raised more than $9 million for the cause.

Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate WGAL-TV Lancaster, Penn. produced and broadcast a debate between the Democratic candidates running for Pennsylvania Governor on May 1. The 90-minute gubernatorial debate was hosted at Franklin & Marshall College and was broadcast twice on WGAL-TV. The station’s Government Reporter Pete Muntean was among the panel of reporters that posed questions to the candidates. The debate was part of WGAL-TV’s "Commitment 2014" political coverage. Click here to watch coverage of the debate.

CBS Radio’s KDKA-FM Pittsburgh morning host Larry Richert hosts an event each year to recognize Hometown Heroes who have contributed to the Pittsburgh community. Richert recently awarded the five 2014 honorees at an event at PNC Park. Each hero was recognized individually for their work and received a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choice.

CBS-owned KYW-TV and WPSG-TV Philadelphia held the stations’ fifth annual Ronald McDonald House Charities Phone Bank. Fundraising segments aired throughout the day on March 25 and collected more than $1 million to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region, a nonprofit that creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children in the community. Since 2010, the stations have raised more than $4 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

CBS-owned KYW-TV, CW affiliate WPSG-TV and CBS Radio’s KYW-AM Philadelphia spotlighted 10 individuals who have "changed the game" for the African-American community in the Greater Philadelphia area in celebration of Black History Month this February. CBS Philadelphia stations aired a series of vignettes and reports about these "Gamechangers" throughout the month.

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Bold Gold Media’s General Manager Michael Stanton hosted the 12th annual Shower for Charity event to support the Wayne County Children’s Christmas Bureau. In 18 degree weather, Santon showered on Main Street in Honesdale, Pa., for several hours donning nothing but Santa Claus boxers, in the hopes of encouraging listeners to donate money for kids in need during the holiday season. In total, the event raised more than $21,000. To date, the Michael G. Stanton Shower for Charity has raised over $150,000 for the Wayne County Children’s Christmas Bureau.

Hearst-owned NBC affiliate WGAL-TV Lancaster, Pa., hosted the "Coats for Kids Telethon," to benefit Salvation Army branches throughout the Susquehanna Valley. This year marked the station’s 26th annual coat drive and the 19th year for the telethon. In total, the event raised more than $232,000, in addition to thousands of coats that were donated at several Salvation Army locations.

Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia partnered with a local tree farm and a furniture store to make the holidays a little brighter for active duty families in the Philadelphia area, by providing them with a free Christmas tree. Families were able to request a tree on the WMGK-FM website. On December 14, local military families were invited to pick up their trees and enjoy a holiday hayride, light display, a visit with live reindeer and have their photo taken with Santa Claus.

Beasley Broadcasting’s WRDW-FM Philadelphia’s Big Philly Show hosted a bicycle drive for local children in early December. Despite heavy snow, the event collected more than 300 bikes, along with $1,800 in donations. All the proceeds were used to purchase a new helmet to accompany each bike.

Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia’s morning host John DeBella held the 12th annual John DeBella Turkey Drop. WMGK-FM staff collected donations for turkeys in 10 locations across the city. The one-day drive raised enough funds to purchase 9,462 turkeys. All proceeds were donated to Cityteam Philadelphia, an organization that provides holiday meals and other services to less fortunate individuals and families in the area.

NBC-owned WCAU-TV and Telemundo-owned WWSI-TV Philadelphia aired a debate between Cory Booker and Steve Lonegan, U.S. Senate candidates in New Jersey. Held October 9th at Rowan University, WCAU-TV anchor Jim Rosenfield moderated a panel that included NBC’s WNBC-TV New York anchor David Ushery and the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Tamari. Viewers were invited to submit questions for the debate via WCAU-TV’s live stream.

Beasley Broadcasting Group’s WXTU-FM participated in the Philadelphia 3-Day, an event that raised money and awareness for breast cancer. The station’s “XTra Mile” team completed the 60-mile route and raised nearly $800,000. In addition to the walking team, the WXTU-FM’s "XTU Crew" provided encouragement and lunches at various cheering stations.

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CBS-owned KYW-TV Philadelphia partnered with the local Susan G. Komen chapter to host "Lights for a Cure," turning the Philadelphia skyline pink to raise awareness to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. On the first of the month, nearly 100 buildings and landmarks went pink and remained lit each night throughout the month. KYW-TV also encouraged women to schedule a mammogram during hundreds of newscasts. This is the 12th consecutive year KYW-TV has sponsored the event.

CBS Radio’s WIP-FM Philadelphia teamed with the Philadelphia Eagles to host the two-day Eagles Radiothon. The live broadcast event raised $183,000 for the Eagles Youth Partnership, an organization that supports programs that serve over 50,000 children in the Philadelphia community every year. Marc Rayfield, senior vice president/market manager, CBS Radio Philadelphia, said, "We are proud and fortunate to be able to partner with the Eagles and give back to the community with the help of generous WIP listeners and Eagles fans."

Maranatha Broadcasting’s WFMZ-TV Allentown, Penn. provided round-the-clock storm coverage, remaining on-air using emergency generated power for five days. The station positioned crews throughout the community in advance so they could report on conditions. In anticipation of widespread power outages, anchors reminded viewers of various ways to get weather updates and encouraged the purchase of battery-operated TVs. WFMZ-TV also simulcast its coverage on local radio stations so that people without TVs could access emergency information.

ABC-owned WABC-TV New York and WPVI-TV Philadelphia and Univision’s WXTV-TV and WADO-AM New York announced the stations will partner to host a debate for the two candidates running for New Jersey’s U.S. Senate seat on October 6. The hour-long debate will be taped and broadcast on air and streamed online.

Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Bala Cynwyd, Penn., hosted the 7th annual John DeBella Veterans Radiothon benefiting local veterans through the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Centers. WMGK-FM’s host John DeBella broadcast live for 12 hours and raised more than $92,000. Listeners made online and call-in donations. Many of the listeners that called attributed their donation to a former or current member of the military in their life.

Premiere Networks-syndicated Hollywood Hamilton and his wife Marina raised $10,000 for the Wounded Warrior project by biking 350 miles from D.C. to Pittsburgh. "Some of you who personally know us might think, ’There is no way he could possibly go six days without an Xbox’ or ’His wife Marina could never live without a hair dryer,’" Hamilton said. "For those reasons, along with both of us being stubborn and the possibility that we may break up somewhere along the way, we will only be collecting these thoughtful donations based on the miles we cover."

CBS-owned stations in Philadelphia – KYW-TV, WPSG-TV, KYW-AM, WOGL-FM, WIP-AM/FM and WPHT-AM – raised more than $225,000 during "Operation Brotherly Love: Helping Moore." On-air talent and volunteers answered phones from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 23. All proceeds went to the American Red Cross. "Once again we are overwhelmed at the generosity of our viewers who always come through for their neighbors whether it’s locally, across the country or around the world," said the stations’ general manager, Jon Hitchcock.

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CBS Television KYW-TV and WPSG-TV Philadelphia "Women of Eyewitness News" promotes breast cancer awareness year-round. The team will broadcast live on Mother’s Day as Meteorologist Katie Fehlinger runs in the 2013 Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure. "Let me get up at the crack of dawn. Let me run for you. Let me channel your support toward one amazing purpose - saving lives," Fehlinger said.

Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia held its first Combat Comedy event to benefit Philadelphia area veterans on March 1, featuring comedian Jim Breuer. The comedy show raised $10,000, and all the proceeds went to the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service Education Center, which provides services to military veterans by eliminating barriers for successful transition and addressing needs for independent reintegration into their community.

CBS-owned KYW-TV and WPSG-TV Philadelphia held a 14-hour on-air phone bank and raised more than $1 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region. The stations aired fundraising segments on March 27 during newcasts and commercial breaks. KYW-TV and WPSG-TV also held three, one-hour specials throughout the day, featuring both stations’ on-air talent and appearances by local CBS Radio hosts.

ABC owned-and-operated WPVI-TV Philadelphia was the official media partner for Musikfest, an 11-day concert, the largest of its kind, held in Bethlehem, PA. The event, held August 5 – 11, was presented by ArtsQuest, a nonprofit that supports the arts and culture in the local area. Attendees could select from more than 550 music and art performances across 16 indoor and outdoor stages. Some of the performers included Darius Rucker, Culture Club and 3 Doors Down.

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment’s WAEB-FM Allentown, Penn., hosted a video contest to address the problem of bullying in schools. The station selected the top 12 videos and invited the winners to WAEB-FM’s Bullying Stops Here event, which featured a live performance by Atlantic Records’ artist Cody Simpson and recognition from Allentown Mayor Ed Pawloski. See the winning 12 videos here.

Hearst-owned WGAL-TV Lancaster, Penn., recently held the 25th annual "Coats for Kids" coat drive and 18th annual telethon to benefit the local Salvation Army. The exact number of coats donated to The Salvation Army is still being tabulated, but is expected to be in the thousands. WGAL-TV’s telethon also raised $229,000 for the Salvation Army.

Honesdale, Penn.-based Bold Gold Media Group’s Market Manager Michael Stanton surprised holiday shoppers on December 15 by performing his private bath time dance routines in public as part of the 11th annual Michael G. Stanton Shower for Charity. Wearing nothing but Santa Claus boxers, he showered on Main Street in Honesdale, Penn., in 30 degree temperatures for several hours. The event surpassed the goal of raising $20,000 for the Wayne County Children’s Christmas Bureau, which brings holiday toys to children.

Allbritton-owned WHTM-TV Harrisburg and Mission Central joined forces in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to coordinate a drive to collect items for storm victims in New Jersey. Operation Sandy Relief raised over $30,000 in cash donations and more than 40,000 pounds of new items, including coats, blankets, socks, diapers, batteries and toys. "Viewers stepped up quickly and generously to help our neighbors in New Jersey," explained WHTM-TV President and General Manager Joe Lewin. "This is just one example of how our local community can work together to make a difference in the lives of those affected by tragedy."

CBS Radio’s Philadelphia stations, including WIP-AM/FM, WPHT-AM, KYW-AM and WOGL-FM teamed up with concert promoter Live Nation to raise money for the American Red Cross. The CBS-owned stations provided a pair of tickets to the Bob Dylan/Mark Knopfler concert on November 19 to listeners who donated at least $20 to the American Red Cross.

ABC’s WPVI-TV Philadelphia sent a two-person team and a mobile generator to five Philadelphia and South Jersey towns without power. The "POWER by 6abc STATION" had a 500-amp generator with 60,000 watts of power with 25 20-amp circuits. This type of generator is generally used on movie and television production sets. "The POWER by 6abc STATIONS gave phones and laptops a charge, but more importantly, it boosted morale," WPVI-TV’s Michael Monsell told TVNewsCheck. "One young boy came out to play guitar for his neighbors while others just exchanged stories about their week. The sense of community that came from our charging stations was overwhelming." WPVI-TV also held a fundraiser to benefit the American Red Cross.

CBS-owned WCAU-TV Philadelphia started a phone bank with the Red Cross and received 600 calls on Sunday alone, according to a spokeswoman. The station planned a day long "NBC10 Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund" for Monday, Nov. 5 to encourage viewers to donate to the Red Cross. WCAU-TV also promoted information on disaster relief, insurance information, commuter train updates and information on how to avoid Sandy-related scams.

Fox’s WTXF-TV Philadelphia anchor Stephanie Esposito broadcast live in Ocean City, NJ during high tide, as Hurricane Sandy came ashore. She covered the area despite evacuations caused by dangerous wires and dangerous debris floating in the floodwaters. WTFX-TV’s weather-related edition of Good Day Philadelphia included interviews with Mayor Michael Nutter, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and Delaware Governor Jack Markell.

CBS Television’s Philadelphia stations KYW-TV/AM, WPSG-TV, WOGL-FM, WIP-AM/FM, WPHT-AM, plus CBSPhilly.com and CBS Outdoor, collaborated on "Operation Brotherly Love: Sandy’s Aftermath." On Nov. 2, volunteers, on-air personalities, the American Red Cross and partner Wawa staffed a phone bank. They took pledges for the American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Response Fund at the top of every hour and in KYW-TV and WPSG-TV news segments. CBS stations created Operation Brotherly Love in 2001 after 9/11. The program has since raised $300,000 for Tsunami victims, over $1 million for Katrina victims and almost $1 million after the Haitian Earthquake.

Greater Media’s Philadelphia stations, WMMR-FM, WMGK-FM, WBEN-FM and WPEN-FM, kept local families informed and connected with up-to-the-minute Hurricane Sandy coverage. The stations’ on-air teams worked closely with local television station news and weather reporters to provide live updates throughout the storm. Additionally, Greater Media’s Philadelphia cluster took calls from area listeners and passed along useful information about road closures and safety alerts.

ABC-owned WPVI-TV Philadelphia and WABC-TV New York City experienced record online traffic during Hurricane Sandy. WPVI-TV’s website included live streams, updates on disaster aid, power outages, school closings, photos and video. The station had 13.1 million page views (mobile and desktop) on Monday and 9 million on Sunday. WABC-TV hit a record 7 million page views on mobile and desktop on Monday with advice for communicating after the storm, information on the NYC subway restoration plan and a plethora of eyewitness photos and video from users. Both station’s apps entered the top ten free news apps for the iPhone during the storm.

CBS Radio’s KDKA-AM Pittsburgh held a regional business exposition to promote local and regional business opportunities. KDKA-AM’s third "Western Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Expo and Town Hall Meeting," held in conjunction with Range Resources, featured shale industry professionals, a representative from the Pennsylvania Governor’s office, Pennsylvania state representatives Jim Christiana and Marc Gergely and many more. The exhibits and educational breakout sessions at the day-long event were free to attendees.

CBS Radio’s WIP-AM/FM Philadelphia hosted the 12th Annual Eagles Radiothon, which raised a combined $223,150 for the Eagles Youth Partnership (EYP) and City Year charities. EYP is dedicated to ensuring that all children in the region can see, read and play safely, regardless of their zip code. Leveraging the brand and resources of the Philadelphia Eagles Football Club, EYP helps vulnerable children reach their potential, bringing health and educational resources to more than 50,000 kids in low-income neighborhoods each year. City Year is an education based non-profit that focuses on keeping students in school and on track to high school graduation. City Year is the only national organization placing full-time, trained young adults in schools to provide individual attention to struggling students.

CBS Radio’s WOGL-FM Philadelphia hosted the 11th Annual "98.1 WOGL-FM Loves Our Kids Radiothon" to support The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The two-day radiothon raised $658,272 this year, bringing the 11-year total to over $5.5 million for the local children’s hospital.

Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia joined the American Red Cross to host the 2nd Annual "102.9 MGK Rock and Roll Up Your Sleeve Blood Drive" on October 6. The eight hour drive was held at the Philadelphia Flyers Skate Zone. All donors received a free skate rental at the facility, as well as a WMGK-FM Blood Drive t-shirt. The radio station’s staff also attended the blood drive to thank listeners.

Entercom recently announced it has committed $1 million worth of public service announcements (PSAs) and public affairs programming to The Wilderness Society. The PSAs will be tailored to specific markets. For example, San Francisco stations may run spots focusing on the Sierra Nevada region. “The Wilderness Society is an outstanding organization that has played a vital, leading role in protecting our nation’s public lands. We are very pleased to be connecting the listeners of our 111 stations across the country with this important organization that works on behalf of all Americans,” said CEO David Field. The PSA campaign is part of The Wilderness Society’s Wild Days of Summer and features celebrities like Dave Matthews, Betty White and Wendie Malick

Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia’s midday DJ, Debbi Calton, and the Parx Casino staff collected gently-used women’s business attire for Dress For Success Philadelphia. The program assists disadvantaged women who want to transition back into the workforce by providing clothing for job interviews, career development training and a financial literacy program. More than 75 percent of the women that utilize Dress For Success Philadelphia retain jobs for at least a year. In 2011, the program helped over 3,000 women in the Greater Philadelphia area.

During Greater media-owned WMGK-FM Philadelphia’s computer drive, morning host John DeBella asked listeners to bring their old computers, printers, monitors, scanners and other equipment to either of the station’s two collection locations.
"So many people receive computers or make computer upgrades during the holiday season and then let their unused, but very capable computer collect dust. The goal of this drive is to get these computers into the hands of organizations and families that need them," said DeBella.
All donations were inspected, refurbished and cleaned. Computers that could not be repaired were properly recycled. The Harmonious Volunteer Center distributed the computers to community organizations, faith based organizations and needy families, many of whom are receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). NFI Industries donated the trucks and drivers used to collect the computers.

South Philadelphia High School received a brand new ten-piece laptop computer lab courtesy of CBS Philly’s KYW-AM Newsradio. A dual touch smart board was also donated to the school. John Middlebrook nominated South Philadelphia High School when he won the KYW Newsradio Comcast Laptop Daily Double contest.
This was the 12th year of the Laptop Daily Double giveaway, which is a partnership between KYW and Comcast. Starting in mid-September, KYW1060 listeners had two chances each day to win a laptop and nominate a school to win the computer lab. South Philadelphia High was chosen randomly from a pool of almost 50 schools selected by this year’s winners.
“It’s just another step to bring positive changes and make sure students are achieving,” said Principal Otis Hackney.

Greater Philadelphia Radio’s WMGK-FM and the American Red Cross hosted the Inaugural 102.9 MGK Rock and Roll Up Your Sleeve Blood Drive at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J. The station hoped their classic rock listeners would contribute 300 units of blood to help the Red Cross maintain a stable blood supply. All donors received the opportunity to watch the Flyers practice before and after donating blood, the chance to meet Flyers Hall of Famers, a coupon for free skate rental at Flyers Skate Zone and a WMGK Blood Drive t-shirt.

CBS Radio’s WOGL-FM Philadelphia’s 10th annual "Loves Our Kids Radiothon" recently raised over $450,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), bringing the 10-year total to $4.7 million. Money raised during the two-day event support patient care programs at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
This year’s radiothon broadcasted live from Ryan Seacrest’s "The Voice" studios located in the Colket Atrium of Children’s Hospital. Special activities for kids included tie dying socks, crafts to decorate their hospital rooms and making crowns with local Miss America title holders. WOGL-FM’s Breakfast Club host Ross Brittain and co-host Valerie Knight anchored the radiothon, with special appearances from the entire WOGL air-staff and CBS 3’s Nicole Brewer. Other guest appearances included Bob Kelly, Pat Ciarrocchi, Jim Donovan, Stephanie Stahl and Natasha Brown.

Greater Media Inc.’s WBEN-FM Philadelphia, Pa., will host the annual Women of the Week Luncheon to celebrate dynamic women who are making a significant impact in the Philadelphia community through their businesses, charitable work or a combination of the two. This year, Deborah Norville, host of "Inside Edition," and Heidi Hamels, co-founder of the Hamels Foundation, will keynote the event, while WBEN-FM’s morning host Marilyn Russell will emcee the luncheon. Russell hosts WBEN-FM’s weekly Women of the Week radio program on Sunday mornings.

Clear Channel’s WRBT-FM Harrisburg, Pa., raised $30,000 in 14 hours to support the Clouse family, a Pennsylvania couple who recently lost seven children in a local house fire. WRBT-FM’s "Nancy and Newman Morning Show" led the station’s effort, accepting listeners’ pledges and auctioning several items donated by top country music artists. "We are not doing this to pat ourselves on the back and say ’Hey, look at what a good thing we’re doing.’ I felt compelled. We needed to do something," Newman said. Contributions are still being accepted for the Clouse Family Fund, c/o Church of the Living Christ, P.O. Box 180, Loysville, PA 17047.

Low-income families facing harsh temperatures and steep energy costs received a helping hand from KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh, Pa., and its first-ever “Warmathon.” The station partnered with the Dollar Energy Fund Hardship Program, which helps struggling families and the elderly afford electric, gas and water service. During the 30-hour live broadcast, hundreds of volunteers staffed the phone bank and “Pedaled for Power,” keeping a bulb lit by riding a stationary bike. In total, $250,000 was raised, helping more than 700 families in the community stay warm. “We look forward to making this an annual event to help raise money for people and families in need of assistance with their energy expenses,” said KDKA General Manager Michael Young.

For the past 12 years, from the second week of November through the holidays, WBEB-FM in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., and its listeners have shown what the season of giving is all about. This past year, the "WBEB Stockings for Kids Holiday Program," which started with just a collection box in a mall, brought in 110,000 toys as well as cash contributions for a grand total of $2.2 million in donations. Known for playing Christmas music for a full month straight, the station inspires the holiday spirit throughout its six-week "Stockings for Kids" effort. The program, which benefits disadvantaged children throughout the area and is coordinated through the Salvation Army, is operated, funded and promoted by the station. Recorded announcements, mentions throughout live programming and staffing events at drop-off sites are all part of the deal. The program has been recognized locally with an A.I.R. Award for Community Outreach and was a National Association of Broadcasters’ Crystal Award Finalist in 2008.

It’s show time! Every year, WFMZ-TV in Allentown, Pa., partners with the State Theatre Center for the Arts for the Freddy Awards, a full-blown show modeled after the Tony Awards that features high school musicals and student performers. The program was developed to encourage excellence in the performing arts. More than 26 high schools participate in the annual competition, which culminates in a live, three-hour telecast during primetime on WFMZ. Chief Meteorologist Ed Hanna co-hosts the show, complete with ensemble performances and acceptance speeches. Two significant college scholarships are awarded to students. The dedication of WFMZ staff, who work overtime and on their own time to make sure the quality of the show is nothing short of flawless, is notable. A network level production truck is brought into the area for three days of rehearsals. The news crew follows the entire story, starting with the announcement of the nominations and finishing with recaps after the show. The Freddy Awards receive multi-media support, including a dedicated section of the station Web site where the live show is streamed and videos are posted of high school performances prior to the awards ceremony. "Since beginning the Freddy Awards, we have seen a consistent increase in the quality and commitment to local high school theater in the viewing area," said WFMZ’s Barry Fisher. The Freddy Awards won the 2007 Associated Press Award for Public Affairs and has been honored with four Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters awards and an Emmy for Outstanding Performing Arts Programming.

Experts believe millions of Americans will have their identities stolen in the next five years, which is why WCAU-TV in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., is taking action to make sure its viewers know how to protect themselves. For the past four years, the station has held quarterly "Great Shredder Events." The station broadcasts live from each event as hundreds of community members dispose of documents containing personal information. The station disseminates information on additional ways to protect identity both through paper materials at the event and through the broadcast of feature stories. To alert viewers of the service, the station runs public service announcements and airs segments throughout its newscasts. Consumers also can visit the station’s Web site and sign up for email alerts regarding future shredding events. The "Great Shredder Event" was the brainchild of a WCAU consumer reporter, and its success has led to duplicate efforts at stations throughout the country.

A working fire alarm doubles the chance of surviving a house fire, which is why WNEP-TV in Moosic, Pa. has teamed with local fire departments to install 15,000 free smoke alarms in 2008 as part of the station’s "Operation Save A Life" campaign. In its third year, the smoke alarm project was developed to help make homes safer in northeastern and central Pennsylvania, where many houses are nearly a century old. Elderly residents, families with children and people living in low-income neighborhoods have all benefited. On-air prevention messages and fire safety news packages are part of the effort, too. Topics have ranged from how to create a fire escape plan to how to use a fire extinguisher. A half-hour special hosted by the WNEP news crew and local firemen has aired twice this year. "We believe very strongly in this program," said WNEP news director Dennis Fisher. "We expect that someday down the road, someone’s life will be saved by an alarm they received from ‘Operation Save a Life.’" The effort has been honored with the Partner In Prevention Award from the Burn Prevention Foundation and the 2006 James A. Miller Memorial Award from the Firemen’s Association of the State of Pennsylvania.

Since the first local YWCA "Race Against Racism" a decade ago, WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pa., has been its media sponsor. With the station’s support, the 5K race became the largest in the Lancaster area in its inaugural year. Due to its continual growth, the race is now held in two additional metro areas WGAL serves, Harrisburg and York. In 2007, the three races inspired 3,000 runners to participate in honor of their commitment to equality and raised $80,000 to fund education programs to eliminate racism. WGAL anchors participated in all three races, and at the Lancaster race, the station set up a booth and gave participants station bags, pencils and other goodies. The station ran 150 promotional spots in advance of the race. In 2007, the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters awarded WGAL the Outstanding Television Public-Service Announcement award in recognition of their "The More You Know: Race Against Racism" spot.

Preparing for life’s emergencies became a little easier for the listeners of WSBA-AM of York, Pa., thanks to the station’s special series, "The Dangers Around Us, Keeping Your Family Safe," which was produced in partnership with the York Chapter of the American Red Cross. Every Thursday and Friday morning from early October through the end of November, the station aired segments that included issues such as personal preparedness, carbon monoxide poisoning prevention, first aid training, fire safety and blood donation needs. The nine-part, 18-segment series also covered holiday concerns such as toy and Halloween safety, and travel and weather issues. To make sure the information reached the greatest number of area residents, audio recordings of the segments were posted on the station’s Web site. WSBA was a National Association of Broadcasters’ Crystal Award Finalist in 2008.

With the help of WWSW-FM in Pittsburgh, Pa., many animals in need of a good home now have one. Every Wednesday, the "3WS’ Pet of the Week" segment features a live interview with a representative from the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, who brings the pet up for adoption for a visit to the studio. On-air personalities Merkel in the Morning, Sheri VanDyke and Mike Frazer have all been involved with the program. During 2007, the station dedicated more than 600 minutes of air time to the pet adoption program, and several staff members now have a new canine member in their family. On the station site, listeners can view pictures of the cats, dogs and bunnies featured on the air and check adoption status to see if they are still in need of a home. At least half of the pets featured are adopted within 48 hours of being named as the WWSW Pet of the Week, according to Gretchen J. Fieser, director of public relations for the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. Dogs Oscar and Meyer, now settled in with their new family, can attest to the success of the program.

After U.S. troops first entered conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq, morning show host RJ Harris from WHP-AM in Harrisburg, Pa., began the now annual WHP Troop Support Rally. Between performances of live patriotic music, military, families of military, political leaders, dignitaries and veterans take the microphone on the front steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol. The 2007 rally kicked off with a flyover by the local 193rd Pennsylvania Air National Guard, which routinely serves in Afghanistan and Iraq. Below, 3,500 people gathered in support of the troops. The rally was promoted with 300 public service announcements. One month before the event, WHP partnered with a local grocery store to sell patriotic magnets. The proceeds, which exceeded $150,000, went to the United Service Organizations (USO). WHP also supported a local Girl Scout cookie drive, which raised funds to send several hundred pounds of cookies to military stationed away from home.

"Comment Please," the daily noontime talk program of WNPV-AM in Lansdale, Pa., brings local election issues and candidates to its listeners. In 2007, the show hosted two debates in its studios, providing those running for Montgomery County commissioner and Montgomery County district attorney a venue to share their views with the community. For the general election, the station plans to host upward of a half-dozen debates for local state legislative and congressional races. A crush of voter registrations prior to the Pennsylvania primary in 2008 prompted the station to interview election officials from Bucks and Montgomery counties. Through "Comment Please" and daily news coverage, the station dedicates significant time to election issues. In the past, this has included "Go Out and Vote" messages, partnerships with local newspapers to organize public forums, and a number of programs focused on the switch from paper ballots to electronic voting in 2006.